UFC 130 Prelims: ‘Mighty Mouse’ Outpoints Former Champion Torres

The once-beaten Demetrious
Johnson wrestled, grappled and willed his way to a unanimous
decision over former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel
Torres at UFC 130 on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in
Las Vegas.

All three judges scored it 29-28 for the 5-foot-3 Johnson, an
emerging force at 135 pounds.

Though the entertaining 15-minute encounter resulted in a unanimous
decision, it was highly competitive, as Torres answered repeated
takedowns from Johnson with a hyperactive guard. However, Johnson
spent much of the match on top, perhaps swaying the judges to his
side. Torres attacked relentlessly with leg locks, triangles and
elbows from the bottom, sweeping Johnson from his back on more than
one occasion.

Johnson landed the most significant punch of the fight -- an
overhand right -- early in round three, fought free from a Torres
mount and capped the final stanza with a late takedown. The
24-year-old Madisonville, Ky., native improved to 2-0 inside the
Octagon.

Boetsch Dominates Grove

Takedowns, ground-and-pound and a significant strength advantage
carried Tim Boetsch
to a one-sided unanimous decision over “The Ultimate Fighter”
Season 3 winner Kendall
Grove in a middleweight matchup. All three judges scored it
30-27.

Boetsch scored with a variety of takedowns, including a beautiful
judo throw in the second round. Grove simply could not stay upright
long enough to put together any kind of an offensive attack.
Boetsch, a former light heavyweight, closed strong and showed no
ill effects from the weight cut to 185 pounds. He grounded Grove
three times in the final round, as he won for the fifth time in six
fights.

“I’m certainly glad I [moved to middleweight],” said Boetsch, who
has joined forces with respected trainer Matt Hume. “I
felt great in there -- really strong. I’m definitely looking to
make a run.

Tibau controlled the first round with takedowns and power punches
and then turned up the heat. The 27-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu
black belt delivered a takedown in the second period and showered
Oliveira with punches from the top. Ultimately, Oliveira
surrendered his back, and Tibau sank his hooks. The choke and the
tapout followed soon after.

Tibau, who has won four of his last five fights, improved to 9-5 in
the UFC.

McDonald Edges Cariaso on
Scorecards

Once-beaten bantamweight prospect Michael
McDonald outpointed Strikeforce
veteran Chris
Cariaso en route to a split verdict on the scorecards. Two of
the three cageside judges ruled in McDonald’s favor by 29-28
counts; a third scored it 30-27 for Cariaso.

McDonald landed the stouter strikes in the first round and secured
a double-leg in the second, consolidating the takedown by passing
guard and moving to full mount. Cariaso enjoyed his most productive
stretch in round three, as he mixed punches with kicks and scored
with a takedown of his own. Still, he could not keep the
20-year-old McDonald from his sixth win in as many outings.

Barao Spoils Escovedo’s UFC debut

Renan “Barao” spoiled the promotional debut of Cole
Escovedo, as he notched a unanimous decision in a preliminary
bantamweight matchup. Scores were 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 for Barao,
who has rattled off 16 consecutive victories.

A
Nova Uniao representative, Barao scored with multiple takedowns
in all three rounds and kept Escovedo guessing with a variety of
strikes, from punches and leg kicks to flying knees. Escovedo
threatened with submissions in round one and three, but his efforts
went for naught, as the former
WEC featherweight champion lost for the third time in four
fights.